Andrews Osborne Academy’s decision to close its Equestrian Center has been met with strong opposition.
On May 13, the Willoughby school's Board of Directors voted to close the facility which has been an important part of the history of AOA and The Andrews School.
According to a letter written to AOA parents by Charles Roman, the Head of School, the main reason for closing the facility was because “operations of the Equestrian Center have impacted the operating budget, not only this year, but in previous years even when it was operated as an Andrews School Facility.”
Attempts to balance the facility’s budget from hiring experienced directors to evaluating plans to increase revenue have failed, according to the letter.
The Board cited several reasons for the closing including:
n In the 2013-14 school year, the facility will incur a cash loss of approximately $278,000. During the month of April alone, the loss was $37,000.
n In the past six years, the cash loss for the facility totaled $1,600,000.
n Of the 373 students enrolled at AOA, 28 ride at the facility.
n Of the 373 students enrolled, three boarding students enrolled because of the center.
n “During the first five years as Andrews Osborne Academy, enrollment increased by 30 percent. The increase in enrollment and tuition of the school was offset by losses at the Equestrian Center.” With enrollment stabilized, losses at the center can no longer be supported. “The financial condition of the school remains healthy, but endowment cannot be used to offset cash losses of the center.”
According to the Board, it studied various ways to keep the center open which included leasing the facility. After a review of the proposal, the board voted it down.
A press release dated May 16 indicated the Equestrian Center would close at the end of the 2013-14 school year. In its place, a new indoor athletic facility will be built. Plans include developing indoor fields for the use of soccer, lacrosse, baseball and more.
Ashleigh Anderson, whose daughter Lindsay Anderson is a junior at AOA, is disappointed the Equestrian Center will be closing. Her daughter transferred from Montessori High School at University Circle to AOA to enroll in the equestrian program. Now that the center is closing, Anderson is undecided on whether her daughter will continue to attend AOA or transfer to another school.
“The Equestrian Center means everything to us,” she said. “It was the reason we moved Lindsay from an ivy program to the Andrews program. For her to have to be looking at colleges and high schools at the same time is not something we anticipated. It’s an incredible hardship on our family.”
Anne Hedge, a 1995 Andrews School graduate who owns White Hedge Farm in Aubrey, Texas, was planning to send her 10-year old daughter Macy to high school at AOA. With the recent development of the closing of the center, she has changed her mind.
“Several plans to save the center have been presented to the board, but they have refused to listen to any of our plans,” Hedge said. “They basically didn’t give us any warning. A lot of people in the equestrian community would have been willing to help. Now we just feel like they’ve made their minds up and it doesn’t matter what we do. It seems like there is more to the story than the school is letting on.”
Hedge started an online petition which totaled 1,179 supporters as of June 3.
In a post written by Rachel Kinney of Durango, Colorado, she stated that as a boarding student, the barn at AOA was her home away from home.
“The life lessons I learned while attending school there during my high school years are invaluable to me,” she wrote. “The barn taught me responsibility and time management that has benefitted me in college and now in my professional life.”
Maureen Blackstone, a 2005 Andrews graduate, was a four-year member of the varsity equestrian team. While she was in the program, Equestrian Director Roxane Lawrence founded the Interscholastic Equestrian Association which has expanded to a national program.
“If alumni would have known this facility was closing, we would have rallied and done anything we could to keep the doors open,” said Blackstone, a Pepper Pike resident who owns a horse. “This was just sprung on us and we were not given enough time to respond.”
In his letter announcing the closing, Roman said the decision was one of the most difficult the board has made.
“The Board strongly believes, however, converting the facility enhances our goal of providing broader opportunities for more students to participate in athletic activities as well as attract new students to AOA,” Roman said. “We look forward to making this improvement on campus and to our commitment to providing the best environment for all of our students.”
Those interested can sign the online petition.

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Theresa spent the first 20 years of her newspaper career as a sports reporter. The Vermilion native graduated from Lorain Catholic High School and John Carroll University. She enjoys running, gardening and traveling. Top vacation spots have included Haiti, Italy, and Turks and Caicos. Keep up with her thrifting adventures at whynotthrift.blogspot.com. Reach the author at taudia@news-herald.com
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